The Golden Throne - Chapter 251

Liu Feng smiled. He looked delighted.

“The two groups were secretly from the same family?” he exclaimed to himself. “Another card that I can play against them.”

He kept walking towards another room. The palace was a very spacious place, and he was lucky enough to have a different room for everything that he needed to do.

He stopped at a door.

“Your Majesty.” a guard bowed down.

“Are they in?” Liu Feng asked.

“They are waiting for your arrival, Your Majesty. Given the short notice, only a few people could actually make it.” the guard said.

“That will be quite enough, actually. My main goal here will be satisfied with talking to a few front runners, and the rest will be figured out over the week.” Liu Feng nodded as he walked into this room.

Unlike the last room, this room was less like a meeting hall, and more like a hall for general purpose.

Liu Feng raised his eyebrows.

“They got ten people here? That was quick and efficient. Well, I guess that in a monarchy, there are a few advantages. No one dares to piss me off.” Liu Feng chuckled.

He then looked at all the men properly. All of them already had grey hair, and they fit the stereotype of a learned man perfectly. Not one of them was young, and all of them looked like they would breathe their last.

Before Liu Feng had arrived, they were already talking with each other. All of them were seated on mats. There was only one chair and it was presumably for Liu Feng.

“Respected Seniors. Why is it that you have sat on the floor? I am sure that I can arrange for a good seating plan.” Liu Feng smiled.

“There is no need for that, Your Highness. Me and many others actually prefer discussions where all of us are started on the ground.” an old man smiled.

“Then I shall indulge myself in the same experience.” Liu Feng said as he sat down on one of the empty mats. He then faced all of the old men.

“Respected wise men. I will be honest with why I have come here. Over the few millennia, the usage of magic has completely dominated the kingdoms of yore. It has taken from us humans what we use the most. Our minds. The mind has been dulled because we are not using it anymore. I am well aware of the importance of a good education. That is why, I want all of the children of the kingdom from ages seven to fourteen to have a mandatory education to literate them in the ways of language, and other particulars.” Liu Feng said.

“Educate all of the children of the kingdom? That will be an impossible task, Your Majesty. It simply cannot be done.” someone said.

“I am sorry. You are?” Liu Feng asked.

“I am called Taizen, Your Majesty. I also had one of these ideas as a young man, but it was simply impossible. Creating the material for thousands of children at a time, and having enough teachers to teach was nigh impossible.” Taizen said.

“That is true. But all of those are the problems of the past generations. There is a reason that I am suggesting all of this, and that is because I have the right methods to make sure that all of this is indeed possible. But the reason that I have called all of you here is not that I wish to discuss how this will proceed. For that, a concrete plan has already been formed. What I wish to ask you, respected scholars is what you all know. I was told that this is the most learned of the capital? I need to know at what level the current populace can go. Have any of you gone anywhere in any sciences?” Liu Feng asked.

“Sciences? Your Majesty must be joking, aren’t you? Researching the sciences is a blasphemy to the God. It has been declared criminal by the church and by the crown years ago.” another man said.

“The church said that sciences can no longer be studied? Interesting. I was not aware of this. Where do these churches derive their power? To be able to influence the decision of the crown?” Liu Feng asked.

All of the people looked at each other apprehensively. After all, why wouldn’t they? They were all treading a very fine line. Any misstep would lead them to the gallows.

Finally, one man took the courage to speak up.

“Your Majesty. The church has its roots in the Holy City of Jerusalem.” the old man said.

“Jerusalem? Interesting. Who would have thought that there would be a familiar name here? It is too much of a coincidence.” Liu Feng thought to himself as he smiled.

“What is the significance? Does Jerusalem share a border with our kingdom?” Liu Feng asked.

“It does not, Your Majesty. Jerusalem is the neutral zone that the kingdoms of all of Dicain have no authority over. Only the Church of the one god has prevalence over that area. They are responsible for maintaining the palace of the golden throne.” the scholar said.

“The golden throne? I have heard of this before? What is it? I am sure that you are privy to more information than me.” Liu Feng asked.

“There are many rumors about this Golden Throne, Your Majesty. In fact, many kings of the past have thought of conquering the palace for their reign. But none have succeeded. All of them had mysteriously died after approaching the palace.” the scholar said.

“I see. Looks like I have to visit that place. Maybe I can understand more of the secrets about this continent. So far, no one seems to be telling me anything.” Liu Feng made a note to himself. He then looked back at the scholars.

“I shall lift the restrictions on the sciences. I shall provide all of you with copies of the textbooks. I will need you to train your successors, who will have to import some important knowledge to all the children in the kingdom.” Liu Feng said.